White Blood Cells
by The White Stripes
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 163 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 151 out of 163
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 163
  3. Negative: 8 out of 163

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  1. Vampire25
    Dec 23, 2010
    10
    White Blood Cells is like my new favorite garage rock album. It's catchy, the lyrics are great, the musicianship is astounding. Jack White's voice is amazing. "We're Going To Be Friends" is a catchy, fun song. "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground" is a great starter. And "Aluminum" is a really good instrumental song. All In All, The Best White Stripes album. A
  2. JawsPapi87
    Oct 19, 2011
    10
    Absolutely brilliant album. For most bands, a masterpiece like this would be their best album but Elephant makes this band an exception. Jack White is one of music's biggest genius's and White Blood Cells was the first clear representation of that
  3. TexasRez
    Apr 14, 2012
    10
    This album really leaves you speechless at how great it sounds. You don't hear albums like this everyday, as White Blood Cells defines who the White Stripes are really. Key Tracks: "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground", "Hotel Yorba", "Fell in Love with a Girl", "We're Going to Be Friends", "This Protector"
  4. BrianS
    Oct 17, 2003
    0
    I'm sorry, but the White Stripes have absolutely no talent. This is the worst CD I've ever paid money for, and I honestly wish I hadn't. Do yourself a favor and don't pay money for this crap.
  5. Ravenous
    Nov 21, 2010
    5
    While the White Stripes are certainly not the most innovative rock band in history, they are still heads-and-shoulders above almost every other rock band from the last decade or so. While many of us have shared the thought that rock has died, this band has added an asterisk to the end of that thought. However, this album is not nearly as good as the two that would follow.
  6. KeithG
    Apr 25, 2012
    2
    While I appreciate Jack White as a man pushing the boundaries of music and trying to return classic rock and roll, sometimes the results are less than interesting. The critics like the man so much, they tend to gloss over his failures. I love "Fell in Love with a Girl", but much of the rest of this album should have found the cutting room floor.
  7. PhilR.
    Nov 25, 2001
    10
    It's going on my christmas list!
  8. KatyL.
    Aug 10, 2002
    10
    This album is one of the best ever!
  9. tracic
    Feb 6, 2004
    9
    one of the best i've heard in a long time. finally something original.
  10. MikeH
    Mar 1, 2007
    10
    This is quite possibly my favorite album of theirs. I love the diversity of rock in this album...the country-rock in "Hotel Yorba", the Detroit rock in "Expecting", the punk in "Fell in Love With a Girl". And the lyrics are the best part...just read over "I'm Finding it Harder to Be a Gentleman". Jack is a genius.
  11. antonioq
    Aug 3, 2009
    9
    It's a really good album once you get rid of preconceptions. "Every band needs a bassist" or "more drumming is better drumming", for instance. Music is, after all, what it is, not what it should be, and you can't fault "Hotel Yorba" (for example) for not rocking enough when it's a great -folky- song. Really strong record.
  12. JeremyA.
    Dec 10, 2001
    10
    If you like rock bands who can actually write decent songs, then you MUST hear this album. The White Stripes are everything the Strokes will never be.
  13. KristiS.
    Sep 8, 2001
    9
    Excellent
  14. AdrianD
    Feb 20, 2002
    7
    Their best yet but is that saying much? I find a problem with the sameness of the sound.
  15. zache
    Oct 5, 2004
    10
    freaken great cd, if you listen to them religiously or not. There elephant is good too but has alot of songs that people who dont "love" them probably wouldnt care for. definitly worth buying for fans...of course
  16. DennisT.
    Feb 2, 2004
    7
    i bought White Blood Cells, hoping it will be worth my $23, and after listening to Elephant, which was pretty great, and comparing the two, i expected better out of my $23. -I mean was he dying or what? (Little Room) - Hotel Yorba was good just missing that rock element. - I like the kind of style they played in Aluminum, but jesus christ i dont want to mistake my cd player having i bought White Blood Cells, hoping it will be worth my $23, and after listening to Elephant, which was pretty great, and comparing the two, i expected better out of my $23. -I mean was he dying or what? (Little Room) - Hotel Yorba was good just missing that rock element. - I like the kind of style they played in Aluminum, but jesus christ i dont want to mistake my cd player having problems with this dissapointment. - I think i smell a crappy song The rest of the songs were good or okay... After listening to it a second time, i came to appreciate the songs. I'm in luck because my CD really messes up sometimes, so i think i might get De Stijl for now.… Expand
  17. Whateveryouwanttocallme
    Jun 3, 2004
    8
    This is a great album, by a great band. But, I wouldn't ever say they are the greatest band ever. Meg white needs drum lessons, and they need a bassest. They still are a great band, and they really if nothing else area step in the right direct. By the way, they aren't really garage rock as much as they are a blues revival mixed with the clash and the sonics.
  18. GordonR.
    Nov 9, 2001
    9
    Wipes the floor with The Strokes
  19. LeeBee
    Sep 29, 2001
    9
    They just keep getting better.
  20. BrandonM.
    Jan 16, 2002
    10
    this is the first White Stripes cd I ever bought and I had to go out and find the other two the next day. I had to order the White Stripes album but it was worth it. This is the first album in a long time that has knocked me over like a sledgehammer. Absolutely brilliant. If only more people had the pwer of Jack White's screeching vocals or Meg Whites relentless, hypnotizing drum this is the first White Stripes cd I ever bought and I had to go out and find the other two the next day. I had to order the White Stripes album but it was worth it. This is the first album in a long time that has knocked me over like a sledgehammer. Absolutely brilliant. If only more people had the pwer of Jack White's screeching vocals or Meg Whites relentless, hypnotizing drum beats. Please release another album. 3 is definatley not enough. … Expand
  21. JimmyTheExploder
    Jan 29, 2002
    10
    This was the first white stripes album i bought and the previous two quickly followed. They are genius and 'White Blood Cells' is perfect for people who have never heard them before. Bare in mind though, i wasn't impressed straight away, it took a few plays before my head suddenly realised what i was listening to. Sheer brilliance.
  22. jessiedetroit
    Apr 7, 2002
    10
    finaly!! a good rock band from detroit. "fell in love with a girl" is one of the best tracts on the cd, that and "we're going to be friends". a must buy for anyones collection
  23. scott
    Jul 8, 2002
    10
    best album ever. i listen to it at least once every day...white stripes rocl
  24. LukeM
    Sep 2, 2002
    3
    The music - guitar and drums only - wears thin very quickly. Though they aren't terrible to listen to, the White Stripes aren't particularly tuneful or memorable. Most of the songs just aren't fully realized.
  25. -x_AmBeR_x-.
    Jan 14, 2003
    10
    The White Stripes are Awesome!
  26. Dan
    Feb 13, 2003
    8
    A really good album, but it does lack in some areas.
  27. BenM
    Aug 5, 2003
    8
    its pretty good. better then most albums by other bands ive heard. i love how the white stripes have their own sound. most rock bands just bore me now. but this album isnt as good as their other 3 cds. they all get 10/10, and elephent gets 11
  28. NancyJ
    Mar 27, 2004
    9
    That guy Brian S. must be into Good Charlotte,Nickelback, Staind, Yellowcard etc. if he thinks WBC is crap.
  29. RonG
    Oct 20, 2005
    10
    Awesome. Better than everything they've done (including Elephant and Get Behnid me Satan) - a miracle in itself Very few albums have quite so many great songs on them
  30. AliC
    Aug 13, 2005
    2
    Oh dear. The White Stripes are so difficult to listen to and the drumming is so dreary and awful. It's amazing how much of a career you can make out of pretending you are sleeping with your sister.
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Awards & Rankings

17
#17 Best Album of 2001
18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2001
25
#25 Most Shared Album of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. CDNow
    70
    Though nothing new -- instrument-wise -- is added to the mix of drums, guitar, and piano, the White Stripes' recipe cooks up heavier overall on White Blood Cells, while still retaining some of the cheeky, barroom brashness that has become their stock in trade.
    Read full review
  2. Mojo
    80
    The Detroit duo spin sordid tales and lovelorn drama with just the right amount of restrained percussion, blooze picking and screaming confessionals. [Sep 2001, p.93]
  3. Pitchfork
    90
    White Blood Cells doesn't veer far from the formula of past White Stripes records; all are tense, sparse and jagged. But it's here that they've finally come into their own, where Jack and Meg White finally seem not only comfortable with the path they've chosen, but practiced, precise and able to convey the deepest sentiment in a single bound.
    Read full review
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